Salon Accused of Posting ‘Facetuned’ Client Photo on Instagram

A woman has taken to social media to accuse a hair salon of altering her image before posting it to their Instagram page, sparking a broader conversation about digital image manipulation and consent.

Increasing Trend of Beauty Industry Posting Client Photos Online

With the rise of social media platforms such as Instagram, it’s becoming increasingly prevalent for beauty professionals, such as barbers, beauticians, and tattoo artists, to showcase their work online.

While this often serves as a convenient portfolio for potential clients, it’s not without its challenges.

Recently, TikToker Jordan Loufas found herself embroiled in a controversy after visiting a new salon.

She discovered that the salon had posted a “facetuned” image of her on their Instagram page, significantly altering her appearance and the outcome of the hair treatment she’d received.

‘Who is That?’: TikToker Calls Out Salon for Editing Her Image

After discovering the manipulated image on Instagram, Loufas took to her TikTok platform to voice her disapproval. Her video quickly went viral, amassing almost 400,000 views and hundreds of comments from sympathizing viewers.

She began the video by explaining her reasons for visiting the new salon and her subsequent discovery of the altered image on their Instagram page.

Loufas then juxtaposed the original photos taken by the salon with the version posted on their Instagram, noting, “Who is that? Literally, who is that? I don’t look like that. They definitely went in and added makeup to my face, smoothed my skin, and smoothed out my chin.”

Furthermore, Loufas noticed that the salon didn’t limit their edits to her face. They’d also enhanced the brightness of her hair, making it appear different from the actual result. “Not only did they facetune me, but they edited the hair to make it look brighter than it actually was,” she added.

Salon Responds to Backlash and Removes Altered Image

Following her TikTok expose, Loufas contacted the salon directly through Instagram, requesting they remove the altered image. The salon complied promptly but not without offering excuses that Loufas found unsatisfactory.

“They did make a bunch of excuses, which I think is a bunch of bullsh*t, but it is what it is,” Loufas said in her video.

This incident serves as a reminder of the ethics surrounding digital image manipulation, particularly in professional contexts where clients’ consent and the accurate representation of services are paramount.

With the surge of such incidents, industry standards and clear communication around social media practices become increasingly important.